What Is Alcholism? 

 

Alcoholism can be defined as, A disease that includes the craving for alcohol and continued drinking despite repeated alcohol-related problems, such as losing a job, or getting into trouble with the law.

Alcoholism is often referred to as alcohol dependence syndrome and the four main characteristics of it are craving, loss of control, physical dependence and tolerance.

A craving for alcohol is a compulsion or a very strong need to consume alcohol while loss of control refers to the repetitive inability to cease drinking once it has started.

A person has become physically dependent on alcohol when they experience withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, nausea, shakiness and sweating after a long bout of drinking, which is often called a binge.

Often the symptoms that accompany physical dependency can be relieved by consuming another form of a sedating drug or else by consuming more alcohol.

Finally the more an individual drinks, the greater their tolerance becomes to alcohol. To put it another way, a person needs to drink increasingly larger quantities of alcohol in order to experience the same high feeling.

Alcoholism is not about the kind of alcoholic beverages a person enjoys drinking, nor is it about how long a period of time a person has been drinking or how much alcohol is consumed in any one timeframe. Alcoholism is about an individuals uncontrollable need to consume alcohol.

Alcoholism is considered to be a chronic and progressive disease that has symptoms that can bring about negative consequences in a persons life such as health concerns, relationship problems and/or work related problems.

Alcoholism, like so many other types of chronic diseases, has a relatively predictable course that it follows and it has a variety of symptoms that are easy to pick out if a person looks closely enough.

Alcoholism is believed to be affected by both genetic as well as environmental factors and men are more likely to abuse alcohol than are women.

There are an estimated 14 million individual presently residing in the United States who either abuse alcohol on a regular basis or are deemed alcoholics. This works out to be every one in three adults.

 Did You Know

The Addictive Side Of Alcoholism

Yes, it is a disease, but Alcoholism is also an addiction.

 It is the undeniable need for a drink that makes if an addiction.

It is the inability to stop at just one drink, and the level of difficulty in quitting, requiring professional assistance and the need for a support group to be able to kick the drinking habit; that makes Alcoholism an addiction.

Alcohol is after all a drug. As an addiction the condition is a progressive one. It changes in intensity growing and taking over like weeds in a garden.

Addiction robs the drinker of the ability to see beyond the haze of alcohol to the reality of situations. T

hey may see an exaggerated reality that is fuzzy and unreal. Addiction makes choices for you that you would not otherwise make.

Addiction often takes the romance out of relationships.

 

 
 
The highest rates of alcohol dependency appear to be in young adults ranging from the age of 18 to 29 years of age while the lowest rates are for those adults who are 65 years of age and older.
In regards to the many ethnic groups residing in the United States, the rates vary although no current research points to alcoholism being any higher in one group in relation to others.
 
There are several million other adults in the United States who may not be alcoholics per se but they still engage in risky types of drinking patterns on a more or less regular basis that could put them in the high-risk category for alcohol dependency.
 
Interesting Facts

If a family member is worrying you with their behavor when they are drinking, make arrangements so that you have a safe place to go when their drinking gets out of hand.
 
An estimated 53 percent of both males and females have admitted to having one or more family members or friends who have a problem with alcohol.
 
The number one organization that helps those who are alcoholics is Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) who describes themselves best in these words,
 
We are a worldwide fellowship of men and women who help each other to stay sober.

 

 
 alcohol affects
 

Better Your Health

Site Map
What is the Attraction To Alcohol
Alcoholism is a Widespread Problem
◦ The Difference Between Alcohol Dependence And Alcohol Abuse
◦ FAQ's About Alcoholism Pt 1
◦ FAQ's About Alcoholism Pt 2
◦ A Brief Summary Regarding Alcoholism
◦ Alcohol Abuse and the College Campus
◦ The Brain And Alcohol
◦ Health Risks For Women Alcoholics
◦ Holiday Survival Guide For The Alcoholic
◦ How A Child See's Alcoholism
◦ Alcoholism Detoxification Steps
◦ Alcoholism and the Workplace
◦ The Children of Alcoholics
◦ Common Questions About Alcoholism
◦ Tests for Alcohol Use
◦ Do All Alcoholics Need a Rehab Center
◦ The Dangers and Penalties Of Drinking and Driving
◦ The War On Drunk Driving
◦ How To Determine When Someone Needs Professional Help
◦ Some Facts About Alcoholism
◦ Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
◦ Diet Hints To Assist With Alcoholism Withdrawal
◦ Helping Someone To Overcome Alcoholism
◦ Alcoholism Risk Is Linked to Early Aged Drinking
◦ A Portrait Of An Alcoholic
◦ The Symptoms of Alcoholism
◦ Basic Facts About Alcoholism
◦ Hard Facts About Alcoholism
◦ Cautions Concerning Non Alcoholic Beer
◦ The College Campus And Alcoholism
◦ Dangers of Alcoholism
◦ Alcoholics Anonymous Steps 1-6
◦ Alcoholics Anonymous Steps 6-12
◦ What Causes An Alcoholic Blackout
◦ New Shot to Treat Alcoholism
◦ Alcoholism's Physical Effects
◦ Group Support For Alcoholism
◦ Threats From Alcoholism
◦ The Truth About Alcoholism
◦ Treating The Three Main Issues In Alcoholism
◦ Treatments for Alcoholism
◦ Vitamins and Supplements For The Alcoholic
◦ Recovering From Alcoholism
◦ Help Your Teen Avoid Becoming An Alcoholic
◦ What Is Alcholism
◦ Family Members Drinking Too Much
◦ Explain Alcoholism
◦ Who Are The Alcoholics
◦ Women Fighting The Consequences of Alcoholism
◦ Al Anon Support For The Alcoholic's Family
◦ Health Consequences Of Alcoholism
◦ Medications Used For Treating Alcoholism
◦ Screening Tests For Alcoholism
◦ What Is The Difference Between Alcohol Abuse And Alcoholism
◦ What the Bible Says About Alcohol Abuse
◦ How to Stop Drinking Alcohol without AA
◦ The Truth About Alcoholics Anonymous
◦ Alcoholism - Curable or Just Controllable
◦ The Causes of Alcoholism
◦ So How Much Drinking Really Is Too Much?
◦ Is Alcoholism Hereditary
◦ What Children Need to Know About Alcohol
◦ How to Recognize When Children are Drinking
◦ What You Need to Know about how to Set Up an Intervention for an Alcoholic
◦ How to Quit Drinking Without Gaining Weight